Travel Air R accident near Youngstown, Ohio, October 10, 1995
On October 10, 1995 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Travel Air R, registered N614K, was destroyed in an accident near Youngstown, Ohio (Youngstown Elser Metro airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper flare during the landing, which resulted in a hard landing, fuselage damage, loss of aircraft control, and a nose over. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1995 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Youngstown, Ohio · Youngstown Elser Metro
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Travel Air R
- Registration
- N614K · registry record · serial RB0001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported that the pilot came in high and fast on the first approach to the runway. They stated that he performed a go-around, and the second approach to the runway appeared normal. The airplane touched down about 1/3 of the way down the runway. There was evidence that the airplane touched down hard. The aft fuselage was bent down during the accident sequence. At the touchdown point, there were rubber skid marks coincidental with wheel pant paint transfer on the pavement. The marks continued for about 15 to 20 feet, then disappeared for about 60 feet (as if the airplane bounced), then they reappeared along with propeller strike marks. Beyond that, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Postaccident investigation revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomaly. Examination of aircraft records revealed that the airplane was recently rebuilt. It was being operated with an experimental airworthiness certificate, issued 6 days before the accident. Pilot records indicated that the pilot had about 27,130 hours total flight experience, with about 2 hours in the accident airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,130 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 4, 1995; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985-AN1-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4G4 at 2:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,703 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.